How to Move from State-to-State

The process of moving from one state to another is quite different from a local move. Generally, moving from state-to-state will require a lot more preparation and planning on your part for everything to run smoothly. In this article we cover some additional considerations that you are likely to cross when moving from state-to-state.

How to 'Go The Distance'

Australia is a vast country and moving from state-to-state is no easy feat. When it comes to moving your personal items, the additional distance they are required to travel will put them at greater risk of damage and loss. You will need to take extra care in packing your items for transport when you are moving from state-to-state to minimise the chances of both loss and damage.

Proper packing is important in any move, but when moving from state-to-state you should take extra care to ensure that all items are properly labelled with your name, destination address, contact number, a brief description of the contents of any cartons and a job reference number (if moving with professional removalists). View our article on Labelling Your Furniture and Cartons for more information.

Use adequate, purpose specific packing supplies. Inferior packing supplies may be cheaper, but will cost you more in the long run!

Consider having your items professionally packed. Not only will your belongings have a better chance of surviving the journey, but many removalists will not insure the contents of owner packed cartons. If you have packed your cartons yourself the furniture removalists will not be able to verify the contents of your cartons, the condition of the contents before transport, and they will have less control over whether your items survive the rigours of transport.

How to Organise Your State-to-State Move

Updating Your Details
As soon as you know that you are moving you should start making a list of all your incoming mail. This will give you a good idea of who you will need to contact to update your details.

Organise for Australia Post to divert your mail to your new address. There is a small fee involved, but it will help you identify who else you need to inform of your change of address.

Updating your details with governmental departments is essential. You will need to contact Medicare, the ATO, state and federal electoral commissions, road transport authorities and several other departments depending on your circumstances. Additionally, there's likely to be a host of other business' and service providers that you will need to contact. To help, we've devised a comprehensive list in our article on "Who To Contact When Moving".

Get Quotes From Multiple Removalists
As with any service, you should get quotes from multiple furniture removalists to ensure that you are getting value for your money. Price is always important, but you should go with the company that you feel most comfortable with.

Check on what insurance is offered or included in the price. Some companies will include fully comprehensive cover for every move they quote while others will let you decide what sort of protection you need for your specific set of circumstances. Removal.net offer various levels of "Transit Protection", so it's not included in your base removal price - rather, it's always quoted alongside it.

Some Home and Contents Insurance Policies include a level of cover for goods in transit, so you should check with your insurer to see whether you are already covered. In any case, obtaining some level of insurance for your move is important - especially when moving long distance or from state-to-state.

When getting quotes from furniture removalists ensure that you have prepared an inventory (list of items to be moved) as accurately as possible. An accurate inventory will give you the most accurate quotations and will help you stay on track with your budget.

It's difficult to make know exactly how many boxes you are likely to have until they are all packed. Make sure to contact your removalists with a final list in the days before your move so that the price can be adjusted accordingly. A final list is important so that the cost does not change come moving day, and so that the removalists will know exactly what size truck to send.

Remember that you are essentially booking truck space when you provide your inventory. If you have fewer items on your final list then your removalist should be able to reduce your price - provided that they have had notice. If you have booked your space but don't require all of it, the removalists will have already allocated that space to you. Space they can no longer sell. They are therefore unlikely to reduce the price if you have not told them in the days preceding your move.

Keep your list handy at all times during the move. Use it to check items off as they are loaded and unloaded from the truck to ensure that nothing gets left behind. It can also be handy to write the condition of each item on your list before the move takes place so you have a basis for comparison when your goods arrive in your new state.

When contacting removalists for quotes on your state-to-state move you must communicate any potential access issues at both pickup and delivery with them. If there are factors that may influence the vehicles, equipment and time required to perform your move then it's likely to effect your price. Some common access issues include:

Overhanging trees;

Clearway's and other parking restrictions;

Low height clearances on car parks;

Surrounding street restrictions on truck size;

Apartment building requirements (booking lifts, time restrictions, public liability form submissions, etc.);

Steep or thin driveways;

An unusually long walk or steps prior to gaining entry to the property;

Anything else that may prohibit trucks from gaining access to the property or will require additional labour or equipment to complete your move.

Other services you might need when moving from state-to-state:

Storage and redelivery from storage.

Carpet and other cleaning services. Ensure the residence you are moving from is cleaned when it is empty. It can be helpful to have your new residence cleaned before your goods arrive, so that nothing gets in the way.

Car transport.

Utility and service connection services.

Don't Over-Schedule!
It is important that you be flexible when moving from state-to-state. Moving long distance or interstate brings more factors that can impact on your move. Organising too many tasks for each day is a recipe for disaster. For example, if you have organised movers for the morning, carpet cleaners for the afternoon, followed by settlement for your property and an afternoon or evening flight you are likely to end up in hot water. Any small hold up can throw you into chaos. While this might seem to be an extreme example, this kind of over scheduling happens far too often.

Organise your move with flexibility in mind and you are likely to have a much more satisfying and stress free experience.

Familiarise Yourself With Relevant Laws
Different states and territories have their own set of laws. Laws regarding quarantine restrictions are the most likely to impact on your state-to-state move. Most states and territories have strict quarantine laws that determine what can cross their borders. You are likely to bare the costs of failure to comply with state quarantine regulations.

How to Move from State-to-State: Top 10 Tips

Always carry important documents, medications, prescriptions and irreplaceables with you.

Have you planned for bad weather? Rain, floods, cyclones and other meteorological events are a fact of life in Australia and can impact on your move at any stage. Prepare for them and you'll ensure your move runs as smoothly as possible. Refer to our article on 'Moving In The Rain' for more information.

Be flexible and don't over-schedule.

Stay contactable during all aspects of your move and with all parties involved.

Always do a final inspection before the truck leaves pickup to ensure that everything has been loaded that should be, and as they are delivered from the removalists truck to make sure that it is in good condition and has been taken off the truck.

You are likely to be charged by volume. The more you have, the more it will cost. Consider holding garage sales, auctioning off or donating items that you don't need or will not fit into your new residence.

Get help wherever you can. Moving from state-to-state can be a time and labour intensive undertaking!

Safety first! Moving can be a dangerous exercise. Never transport hazardous goods. Dispose of flammable, explosive or corrosive items in a safe, lawful and environmentally friendly manner. Sharp objects should be wrapped appropriately and you should identify, remove and communicate all hazards with all people involved in your move. Full gas bottles, fuels, chemicals and tripping hazards are too often the cause of injury for removalists and other involved in moving house.

Don't pack perishable or frozen foods when moving from state-to-state.

We hope you have found this article on "How to Move from State-to-State" helpful. If you would like an instant on-line quote from us for your next move simply click here or give our friendly sales representatives a call on 1800 812 333.